I leave Arica today (much, much later than intended and in a different direction!) and I'm going to miss it a little because I've been so at home here. Part of that is certainly due to Kurt and Nicole at the Surfhouse who have been great and made me feel part of their family, even inviting me to Simon's birthday party down at the Sailing Club today which was great fun. Anyone going to Arica should definitely stay at the Surfhouse - it's got a lovely, relaxed atmosphere and one of the biggest dorm rooms I've stayed in with comfy single beds. Don't watch football with Kurt though - there's never any goals scored when he is watching!!

I took some time away from footie watching to visit the 2 archaeological museums in Arica. The one on Ave Colon only opened a few moths ago and isn't mentioned in most of the travel guides but is worth a look as they have some skeletonised remains that have been left in the places that were discovered when the owners tried to build on the site

. It doesn't take long to see everything but it's quite interesting. The main museum is out in the Azapa Valley and has a huge selection of artifacts that have been amazingly well preserved because of the extremely dry climate in the area. They have some mummies from 5,000 - 9,000 years ago that are just incredible - mind you I think that the postcards showing the mummies are taking it a little far. I mean, who'd want to get a postcard with a little mummified baby on it?!

Other than those sights I've been having a lazy time in Arica taking a few trips down the coast a little or up onto the Morro. There's a statue (I think it's the Virgin Mary but there's no plaque to confirm that) on a smaller hill at the east side of the town centre that offers a beautiful view of the city and the Morro at sunset that I visited as well.

Next stop is San Pedro de Atacama - there'll still be plenty of sunshine out there in the desert and lots of sightseeing to do!